The Glazer brothers fired Jon Gruden back in 2008, but there they were. Bryan Glazer and Jon Gruden.. back together again, sharing the stage at the One Buc Place Auditorium Wednesday, as they talked about Bryan’s father, the late Malcolm Glazer, and Jon being inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor.

Malcolm, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner who passed away three years ago, will be inducted at halftime during the Bucs’ Thursday night game against New England on Oct. 5th.  The Gruden ceremonies will take place during the Monday Night game against Atlanta on Dec. 18th.

Under Malcolm Glazer, the Bucs transformed from losers to winners. But what I remember most, outside of the Super Bowl win, was the price.  Glazer paid $192 million for the franchise back in 1995. At the time most observers thought that was a ridiculous price to pay for a sad-sack franchise.  The latest team value, according to Forbes, is $1.8 billion...with a ‘B.'  But Malcolm Glazer was not all about money.

“My father’s greatest pleasure came from his long conversations talking to the players, coaches, and staff over the years,” said his son Bryan Glazer, now the team Co-Chairman. “It wasn't about football, but about who they were, where they came from and how they could get to where they wanted to go.  He would talk about how if you worked hard, you could accomplish anything you wanted in life.”

Jon Gruden recalled the same endearing qualities, “I remember going to the owners’ meetings every year and sitting with him, with all the other head coaches and owners, and the only thing that he cared about was if I was happy.  Where I was living, how my kids were doing, and it was genuine, and it’s something you can’t replace.”

In answering questions from reporters and former players, Gruden displayed the incredible passion for the game he embraces to this day. His seven years as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach were his best in the NFL.  He left as the team’s winningest coach ever.  

Gruden gave credit to the players on the Super Bowl team, especially QB Brad Johnson.  Of that Super Bowl win, Gruden reminisced, “My favorite memory was when I played quarterback, I was Rich Gannon.  I was ripping you guys, (Derrick) Brooks.  I was throwing slants, square-ins.  I was checking off.  If I had played in that Super Bowl for the Oakland Raiders, it might not have been the same outcome.  That’s what I remember the most.”

Gruden sounded like he would love to coach again and hinted at the same less than a week ago, in an interview with PewterReport.com. But he nixed that idea pretty quickly at this press conference, “I don’t foresee myself coaching anytime soon.  But I do like getting as close to the fire as possible.”

'Close to the fire' means he’ll continue his high-profile gig with ESPN and Monday Night Football, for awhile at least.

We look forward to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring of Honor ceremonies, and the induction of two champions who changed the face of Sports in Tampa

If you enjoyed reading 'Next Up On the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ring Of Honor' see 813area sportswriter Dave Wirth's Tampa Bay Buccaneer training camp reports and more on his profile page, as well as his reports on the Rays and other local sports in Tampa and  Pinellas. Register and stay connected to things to do in Tampa, the area's top events, restaurants in Tampa, bars and clubs and much more. (Cover photo credit: BucsZone Facebook)